Perfect Illusion: dark/goth song or just an illusion?

[Miracle 14,068]

Listening to the PI piano-vocal version Gaga performed at Carslon Daly, I've come to the conclusion Perfect Illusion is actually quite dark. Lemme explain myself:

 

Perfect Illusion starts with a chord Em, which it's the key of the song, the tonic. That's very common in pop music but doing songs in key minor isn't. That's something Gaga always does with her songs: instead of big, positive major chords she tends to give us shadows with minor songs (BR, DIDT, TIHTY: all minor key songs). As you can see here, if it weren't for the high notes of the P.Illusion chorus, the song could basically be a broody-goth song

 

 

But the biggest twist comes, obviously, with the key change. The key change is central piece to the song. The song turns even more dark and ragey when it hits: she goes to the Notre Dame altar in a rainy day and sings in the darkest key of them all FMINOR

Several versions of Tocatta and Fugue by Bach are played on E Minor to give it a dark twist. I'm not trying to compare Bach's Magnum Opus to Perfect Illusion, but I just want to make it clear how dark (also sentimental, intense) E Minor is. 

 

Also, check Chopin's Prelude in E-Minor. Extremely sorrowful too

It's interesting to analyze the songwriting behind Gaga's songs because beyond all the layers of sounds and concepts (PI melody and second voices were most probably done as a way to give it "HI-NRG rock" vibe to the somber PI harmonies), lies the spirit of Gaga songs. 

The analysis of over 1300 pop songs brought two conclusions: 70% of pop songs use major chords and only 30% use minor chords.

http://www.hooktheory.com/blog/i-analyzed-the-chords-of-1300-popular-songs-for-patterns-this-is-what-i-found/

Add this to whimpering minor progressions similar to those used in horror movies, and you'll have the perfect dark song.

I'm willing to see how Gaga would work in 15/8 progressions like in Tubular Bells but that's almost impossible in pop music so I'll keep waiting.

 

[RadioIsOurs 13,876]

Whatever it is, the final product doesn't show at all.

[KyliesChild 16,907]

The song is meant to be dark. The lightheartedness of the final product is the illusion of it all. If you listened to the structured on pop podcast about her they have discussed the arrangement.  

[KyliesChild 16,907]

Perfect Illusion is a unique pop song because of the use of songs. 

By the way, this is an awesome thread.

[13VictorC 1,102]

27 minutes ago, Skai Jackson said:

The song is meant to be dark. The lightheartedness of the final product is the illusion of it all. If you listened to the structured on pop podcast about her they have discussed the arrangement.  

Absolutely! Gaga is so clever that with each layer you peel off her the more fascinating she becomes. 

Here's the podcast episode that analyzed Perfect Illusion and Gaga as a whole for anybody who is interested:

Switched on Pop - Episode 45

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/switched-on-pop/id934552872?mt=2&i=375690369

[KyliesChild 16,907]

1 minute ago, 13VictorC said:

Absolutely! Gaga is so clever that with each layer you peel off her the more fascinating she becomes. 

Here's the podcast episode that analyzed Perfect Illusion and Gaga as a whole for anybody who is interested:

Switched on Pop - Episode 45

https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/switched-on-pop/id934552872?mt=2&i=375690369

Thanks for finding it for me.